As was expected, the Seton Hall Prep baseball team got past DePaul Tuesday afternoon in a North Jersey, Non-Public A tournament game. What wasn't expected is what occurred on the other side of the bracket.
While the Pirates were winning 7-3 in West Orange, eighth-seeded Bergen Catholic was surprising top-seed Dom Bosco Prep 3-1 at William Paterson University in Wayne.
Thus, No. 4 seed Seton Hall Prep will play host to Bergen Catholic (20-8) Friday in the sectional semifinals. Bergen Catholic had suffered 7-6, 17-4 and 11-1 regular-season losses to Don Bosco before the stunning victory.
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Seton Hall Prep improved to 21-5 by quickly wiping out a 3-0 DePaul third-inning lead.
The Pirates scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to take control.
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Senior Rob Fonseca got Seton Hall Prep going with a two-run single, followed by RBI singles by junior D.J. Link and senior Stephan Halibej. The Pirates put a stranglehold on the game in the sixth on junior pinch-hitter Mark Mari's single and RBI singles from junior Ty Blankmeyer and Link.
Senior Matt Cianci was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base; Link was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Fonseca also had two RBI.
Senior lefty Stephen Silvestri earned the win, pitching a complete-game, five-hitter, striking out 10 and walking five. He didn't allow an earned run in improving his record to 4-1.
